Eight people injured in car wrecks in Abilene in less than 24 hours

Nellie Doneva/Reporter-News
Emergency personnel and firefighters load an accident victim to be transported to the hospital. Three Abilene High football players were in an SUV that collided with a city refuse truck Monday morning on North First Street near Mockingbird Lane. The two passengers of the vehicle were taken to Hendrick Medical Center.

Abilene Reporter-News

Nellie Doneva/Reporter-News
City of Abilene employees gather behind a refuse truck, which was in a collision on North First Street near Mockingbird Lane.

Abilene Reporter-News

Three Abilene High students were injured on the way to school Monday when the SUV they were in collided with a city refuse truck in the 3100 block of North First Street.

All three of the students were Abilene High football players — two offensive linemen and one defensive player.

“Two of them already went home and the third was in surgery this afternoon,” AHS coach Steve Warren said Monday evening. “I understand it went well, but I don’t know how they’d list (the student’s condition).”

Warren said the football team’s spring practice went on as planned Monday. He said he did not know when the students would be able to resume playing football.

“We’re just glad they’re OK,” he said.

Police said the refuse truck was traveling west in the right lane shortly before 8 a.m. Witnesses said the driver of the SUV apparently didn’t see the refuse truck making a right turn. The vehicle collided with the back of the truck.

City firefighters used hydraulic rescue equipment to free the two passengers. The two boys were taken to Hendrick Medical Center.

In other accidents:

A motorcyclist was injured shortly before 8 a.m. Monday when he collided with a car making a left turn from U.S. Highway 277.

The accident occurred in front of the Las Brisas Apartments.

A Buick sedan was sitting in stopped traffic in the left turn lane, facing west on Highway 277, attempting to turn into the apartment complex. Traffic began to move and a stopped car in the inside eastbound lane motioned the driver of the Buick to make the turn.

As the Buick started to cross the eastbound lanes, it turned into the path of a motorcycle in the outside lane.

According to police reports, the motorcyclist left a 40-foot skid mark trying to avoid the crash. The 54-year-old man was wearing a helmet; he was taken to Hendrick Medical Center in critical condition.

Four Abilene Christian University students suffered injuries in a single car rollover about 9 p.m. Sunday.

Grant Rampy, director of public relations, said three students had been released and one was still in the hospital Monday evening.

The accident took place on Loop 322 near State Highway 36. The accident is under investigation and speed may have been a factor.

According to Hendrick Medical Center, students Philomena DeHoyos of Seguin, Kristopher Normand of Fort Knox, Ky., and Shalina Sadruddin of Carrollton were taken to the hospital and later released. Michelle Weidenaar of Arvada, Colo., remains at Hendrick in stable condition.